The North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, is seeking letters of interest and statements of qualifications from agencies or firms interested in coordinating transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged in Madison County, Florida. The selected contractor will be the designated Community Transportation Coordinator for Florida’s Transportation Disadvantaged Program, as authorized by Chapter 427, Florida Statutes, and more fully described in Rule 41-2 of the Florida Administrative Code. Experience with eligibility-based transportation services is required.

The Community Transportation Coordinator is defined by Chapter 427, Florida Statues as a transportation entity recommended by the appropriate designated official planning agency to ensure that coordinated transportation services are provided to the transportation disadvantaged population in a designated service area. The Community Transportation Coordinator has full responsibility for the delivery of transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged as outlined in s. 427.015(2).

The transportation disadvantaged are defined by Chapter 427, Florida Statues as "those persons who because of physical or mental disability, income status, or age are unable to transport themselves or purchase transportation and are, therefore, dependent upon others to obtain access to health care, employment, education, shopping, social activities, or other life sustaining activities, or children who are handicapped or high-risk or at-risk as defined in s. 411.202."

Interested providers are required to provide proof of qualifications in the following areas: coordination experience, scheduling and routing software used by the organization and vehicle acquisition. Letters of interest and qualifications should be limited to four (4) pages.

Potential providers should submit their expression of interest and qualifications in a sealed envelope to: North Central Florida Regional Planning Council, ATTENTION: Scott R. Koons, Executive Director, 2009 N.W. 67 Place, Suite A, Gainesville, Florida 32653-1603. Letters must be marked, "LETTER OF INTEREST AND QUALIFICATIONS FOR MADISON COUNTY COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION COORDINATOR." Letters of interest and qualifications must be received by 5:00 p.m. March 16, 2007.

Faxed and e-mailed responses will not be accepted. Late letters will be returned unopened with the notation, "This letter of interest was received after the delivery time designated for receipt and opening in the legal notice." Only responses to the request for letters of interest will be considered if a request for proposals is issued for Community Transportation Coordinator.

The North Central Florida Regional Planning Council reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses in the best interest of the State.